Setting a sapphire in a bezel.. advice please!

[sfilly]

I could use some advice on how to set a sapphire for my ering.

I found a setting that I love from a seller on etsy that does not work with customer stones. She said that our options were :
1. Let her source a light blue or green sapphire for me for the ring
2. She would create a semi-mount and I could have someone set the ring locally.

(photos of the setting)
https://img0.etsystatic.com/018/0/5149121/il_570xN.501127410_aydb.jpg
https://img1.etsystatic.com/019/0/5149121/il_570xN.501189221_gnyh.jpg

Originally, we decided to go with option one and have her source a stone, but I haven't loved any of the stones and instead have fallen in love with one of Gene's precision cut sapphires (which I purchased, but I know that sometimes multiple people attempt to purchase his stones at the same time so I'm not getting too excited until I see the 'out of stock' sign beside the stone on his website)

http://www.precisiongem.com/Gemstones/rapidcart/sapphire.html (the round sapphire at the bottom)

Since I potentially have my own stone (and if we don't get this one, we'd probably still source our own precision cut sapphire), a it would seem that my only option for this setting is option 2: she makes a semi-mount and we get the stone put in locally

These are my questions:

1. Is it advisable to get a bezel semi-mount? I worry that it won't fit properly or that the finished bezel won't be as nice since she won't have the physical stone with her to work from. Plus I'd have to find a jeweler locally to set it.

2. Will this setting make the stone too dark? It is a light blue sapphire and the bottom of the setting is relatively closed off


I'd love to get some advice!

 

[MollyMalone]

I myself would not have her (or anyone else for that matter) make a full bezel semi-mount for a local jeweler to set my stone in because

(a) I'm picky about my bezels, including those in rings more casual than your e-ring will be**
(b) if you don't already know of one in whom you can have confidence, finding a local bench who does a skillful job with bezel settings (they aren't a snap) -- and has experience with setting colored gems (not just diamonds) in bezels -- is no easy task. And such a bench might actually decline this kind of job sight unseen because her work is unknown to them or turn it aside once they see the semi-mount, so where would that leave you?
(c) if the ring doesn't turn out well, seems very likely that kateszabone & your local bench would point fingers at each other... making it much harder for you to obtain satisfaction or pursue recourse

** for that reason, I would not be happy with some of kateszabone's other rings, whose bezels appear to be more uneven and/or "chewed up" than the halo'd moissanite ring depicted in the two photos linked above.

 

[FrekeChild]

I would work with a different jeweler. She has never worked with customer stones. From the looks of it, Daniel M could probably make something similar - they already have a haloed bezel pendant that is a stock item in their shop - it looks a bit different, but Daniel M can pretty much make anything you ask of him. He also works with outside stones, so worth looking into I think.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/danielmjewelry

I wouldn't ever have a bezel setting made for a stone that isn't in hand. Too hard to "make it work", you know?

 

[chrono]

I would not do option 1 if none of the sapphires she sourced tickle your fancy and you are going to get a precision cut sapphire in the end anyway. I would opt for option 2 IF it were a prong setting but would never do this for a bezel setting. The reason is as you stated; the bezel must fit the stone properly, almost perfectly. Should something happen to the stone or if you are not happy with the end result, it is very easy for one vendor to put the blame on the other, leaving you in a state where nothing will be resolved to your satisfaction. It is best to have the vendor who is making the setting also set the sapphire for you.

 

[sfilly]

I myself would not have her (or anyone else for that matter) make a full bezel semi-mount for a local jeweler to set my stone in because

(a) I'm picky about my bezels, including those in rings more casual than your e-ring will be**
(b) if you don't already know of one in whom you can have confidence, finding a local bench who does a skillful job with bezel settings (they aren't a snap) -- and has experience with setting colored gems (not just diamonds) in bezels -- is no easy task. And such a bench might actually decline this kind of job sight unseen because her work is unknown to them or turn it aside once they see the semi-mount, so where would that leave you?
(c) if the ring doesn't turn out well, seems very likely that kateszabone & your local bench would point fingers at each other... making it much harder for you to obtain satisfaction or pursue recourse

** for that reason, I would not be happy with some of kateszabone's other rings, whose bezels appear to be more uneven and/or "chewed up" than the halo'd moissanite ring depicted in the two photos linked above.

I know most of her designs are more organic, but she does have a few cleaner bezel that really appeal to me. However, your advice confirms my fears that a semi-mount bezel ring is a bad bad idea, I hadn't even considered the potential finger pointing that could happen. Thanks for your input!

@Chrono and @Frekechild:

Advice taken! Starting the search for someone to make the entire setting with the stone. This jeweler is in Canada so I wouldn't be sending my stone and ring across the border, and it looks like he has set gemstones in a variety of bezels before. I might fire him an email once I find out if that sapphire from Gene is on it's way to me (fingers crossed!). Definitely taking a look around at the options

http://www.designsbymanuel.com/gallery_other_rings.php

 

[maryjane04]

Hi Sfilly, just wondering if you have got your sapphire set yet? I'm interested to see the result

 

[pregcurious]

Me too!